AIDS awareness raised for the community
World Aids Day is celebrated annually on December 1 to raise awareness of the disease.
A World Aids Day awareness campaign was held at Progress Comprehensive High School, Pimville, on December 2 to raise awareness of the disease and educate the community.
World Aids Day, an international day, is dedicated to raising awareness of Aids and mourning those who have died because of it.
In commemoration of the 37th World Aids Day, much of the community, old and young, came out to learn about the disease.
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The school’s learner support agent (LSA), Lehlohonolo Mosana, said the Gauteng Department of Education tasked the LSA to hold a campaign raising awareness about HIV/Aids.
“Today is all about HIV and Aids as we celebrate World Aids Day to show support more than anything to people living with the disease.
“I came up with a hand printing – a campaign where we all leave our handprints on a piece of white cloth with messages of support,’’ said Mosana, adding that he hopes this event is an eye-opener for the communities and gets rid of the stigma around HIV/Aids.
Ntombifuthi Khoza, the clinic health promoter at the Chiawelo Clinic, gave more insight into the disease and how to treat it. The attendees also received pamphlets with more information.
‘’It is important that we educate our communities to end the stigma and discrimination around the disease.
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“The one thing I want to encourage is for our communities to know their status. If the virus is undetectable, it does not mean you are not infected with HIV anymore because that is the common mistake made, which leads to people then stopping to take their medication.’’
Everyone who attended participated in the handprint activity and left heartfelt messages.
